Cartridge-type dispenser

ABSTRACT

A disposable container comprising a filled, temporarily sealed cartridge for use in a caulking gun-like dispenser mechanism for repeated discharge of incremental amounts of the contents thereof of mayonnaise-like consistency. The cartridge includes a generally cylindrical tubular body having an inwardly rolled rim at one end thereof with a generally circular disc sealed within the body in abutment with the rim. A plurality of mutually intersecting slits through the disc form a resilient, pressure-responsive valve and orifice in the center portion of the disc. A plug top closure is disposed within the opposite end of the tubular body and is provided with a tapered side wall sized to be closely received within the tubular body, at least one circumferential rib on the sidewall for tightly, slidingly engaging the tubular body, and a radially outwardly extending closure lip for yieldably engaging the inner surface of the tubular body and providing a liquid tight seal between the top plug closure and the tubular body. An optional radially inwardly curled lip is disclosed on the opposite inlet end of the tubular body. A delaminable laminated tubular body side wall is also disclosed along with a method of assembling such a disposable container.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in containers.In one aspect the invention relates to improved container structure. Inanother aspect the invention relates to improved container constructiontechnique.

Apparatus in use in one chain of fast service food outlets fordispensing one or more salad dressing-like food sauces comprises atrigger-actuated gun for discharging an accurately measured incrementalquantity of such sauce on each single stroke of the gun trigger. The gunincludes a reusable cylindrical container in which a piston works. Anozzle is attached to the container and comprises a fragile flatmembrane of elastomeric material with crosshair cuts therein. Thecontainer, piston and nozzle of this apparatus must be disassembled andshould be cleaned each time the container is emptied, and the containermust then be refilled from a bulk supply. Economic as well as sanitaryconditions make this procedure undesirable.

It has become quite customary in connection with devices generallyreferred to as caulking guns, put to their originally intended use, tosupply caulking compound in disposable cartridges which remain sealeduntil placed in the gun. In some instances, the nozzle constitutes apermanent part of the gun and, accordingly, may have to be cleaned outafter each use. In other instances, a nozzle comes with or is formed asa part of the disposable cartridge. In either event the nozzle usuallyis merely a tube having an inside diameter chosen to lay a bead ofcaulking compound having a predetermined diameter. Caulking compoundscharacteristically are heavy viscous materials which exhibit little, ifany, tendency to exude from such nozzles in the absence of theconsiderable pressure which is exerted on the contents of the cartridgewhen extrusion of the compound is desired.

Mayonnaise, by definition, is a semisolid dressing made by emulsifying amixture of raw eggs or egg yolks, vegetable oil and vinegar or lemonjuice. With the addition of salt and condiments, it is used as a saladdressing or as a base for mixture with compatible materials to formsalad dressings identified by various names. The consistency ofmayonnaise, or mayonnaise-based salad dressings or dressings or saucesmade in imitation thereof, is light and such products will extrudethrough a small orifice at very high velocity under very moderatepressure. Accordingly, when it is desired to extrude such material bymeans such as a caulking gun-type apparatus, a nozzle having an orificeof large effective diameter is required if excessive extrusion velocityis to be avoided. However, an orifice of appropriately large fixedcross-sectional area is impractical since the material usually will flowthrough such an orifice by gravity alone or by inertial forces incidentto handling. It is for this reason that a flattened tube of elastomericmaterial has been used in the past to provide a nozzle which will expandand afford a large orifice only under discharge pressure.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,396, a cartridge-type dispenser with resilientslitted outlet valve is disclosed for use with a caulking gun-typedispensing mechanism for the dispensing of sauces or the like ofmayonnaise-like consistency. The cartridge-type dispenser disclosed inthis patent comprises a cylindrical paperboard tube having a moldedplastic dispensing head secured to the outlet end portion thereof bymeans of heat shrinkable tape. The dispensing head is provided with amale node which carries a frustoconically shaped nozzle therein, all ofwhich is molded of a unitary mass of plastic material. The cartridgefurther includes a molded plastic plug closing the opposite end of thetubular body, which plug is secured to the tubular body by means of heatshrinkable tape until immediately prior to insertion of thecartridge-type dispenser into the dispenser gun. The outlet of the malenode is also closed by means of a suitable seal until it is desired todispense the contents thereof by means of the dispensing gun.

The construction of the cartridge-type dispenser of U.S. Pat. No.3,884,396 is relatively expensive owing to the use of two molded plasticelements each requiring special mold tooling for the manufacture thereofand the excessively large number of manufacturing operations required toassemble, fill and seal the dispenser. The use of mold tooling for themanufacture of the dispensing head, designated by the referencecharacter 20, also reduces the flexibility of the cartridge-typedispenser design of this patent to accommodate sauces or dressings ofvarious consistency without complete redesign of the mold tooling.

In a variation of the design of the cartridge-type dispenser of U.S.Pat. No. 3,884,396, the molded plastic dispensing head has been modifiedto exclude the integral nozzle structure from the male node andaccommodate in its place a removable nozzle insert constructed of a discof flat plastic material having a plurality of mutually intersectingslits formed in the center thereof. This variation, however, adds anadditional element to the dispenser structure and requires theadditional manufacturing step of stamping or otherwise forming thenozzle insert from plastic sheet material as well as the additionalassembly step of inserting each nozzle insert into the molded plasticdispensing head.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,760, a cartridge-like container with expellingmeans for food products is disclosed wherein a flattened pliabledispensing nipple is provided for extruding the contents directly intothe mouth of the consumer. This patent also shows, in certainmodifications thereof, an extruding plunger which roughly nests with thehead to minimize the amount of food product remaining in the packageafter a full stroke of the plunger. The dispensing nipple is not formedas an integral part of the cartridge and must be applied by the userafter the cartridge has been opened.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,661,126 discloses a plunger-actuated dispensingcontainer for viscous fluids such as printing ink. The orifice isrelatively large but fixed in area whereby a removable closure must beremoved and replaced incident to each use.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,356 discloses a mechanism for dispensing a fluid orpasty mass substance, including a piston device slidably mounted withina container which holds the substance. The container has a dispensingvalve which is self-closing and which automatically opens whensufficient pressure is exerted upon the substance. The valve has anelastic conical element having a razor-like incision near the apex ofthe cone. When sufficient pressure is exerted on the substance, theincision opens to form a narrow slit through which the substance isdispensed. This patent does not, however, disclose a disposablecartridge-type dispensing package which performs the dual function ofcontaining a food product from the time or packaging at a foodprocessor's plant to the time of dispensing of the food product forultimate consumption. Furthermore, the container structure disclosed inthis patent is not adapted for use with a trigger-operated dispensinggun.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,987 discloses a spout with a frangible diaphragm foruse with a caulking cartridge. Various forms of frangible disclosed inthis patent are each formed of molded plastic requiring special moldtooling for each individual design with the attending expanse andflexibility limitations ordinarily associated with the use of suchtooling. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,102,939; 2,111,582; 2,478,078; 3,130,872;3,161,325; 3,288,333 and 3,319,841 are illustrative of cartridge-typecaulking guns with nozzles of various types including some which areformed as a part of the gun and others which are formed as a part of thecartridge.

The prior art also includes many well known forms of cake or candydecorating devices which include nozzles for extruding paste material toform rosettes, gadroon edging and the like. A widely used nozzle forthis purpose has a star-shaped orifice somewhat resembling the orificedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,396. However, such star-shaped nozzlesare, so far as is known, made of rigid material wherein the size andshape of the orifices remain unchanged under varying amounts ofextruding pressure since the purpose of the nozzle is to form anextrusion having a definite cross-sectional shape.

The present invention contemplates a cartrdige-type dispenser orcontainer of the type which includes a tubular body having first andsecond end portions with dispensing outlet means in the first endportion thereof and with the second end portion thereof being open. Thedispenser is provided with plug closure means adapted to be disposedwithin the second end portion of the tubular body for closing thedispenser, the plug closure means having a closure side wall sized andshaped to be closely received within the second end portion of thetubular body and having radially outwardly extending closure lip meanson the first end portion of the closure side wall adapted for yieldablyengaging the inner surface of the tubular body. The closure side wallfurther includes at least one radially outwardly extendingcircumferential rib means on a first outer surface of the closure sidewall adapted to tightly and slidingly engage the inner surface of thetubular body. The first outer surface of the closure side wall isgenerally frustoconically shaped and communicates with and tapersradially inwardly away from said closure lip means toward means closinga second end of the closure side wall.

The present invention further contemplates a method of assembling acartridge-type dispenser or container of the type which includes agenerally cylindrical tubular body having first and second end portionswith dispensing outlet means in the first end portion thereof and withthe second end portion thereof being open. The method includes disposingplug closure means within the second end portion of the tubular body tothereby close the cartridge-type dispenser, with the plug closure meanshaving a closure side wall sized and shaped to be closely receivedwithin the second end portion of the tubular body and having radiallyoutwardly extending closure lip means on a first end portion of theclosure side wall yieldably engaging the inner surface of the tubularbody. The method also includes sealing the plug closure means to theinner surface of the tubular body to provide a liquid-tight annular sealtherebetween.

An object of the invention is to reduce the cost of cartridge-type fluiddispensers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge-type dispenserof simplified construction.

A further object of the invention is to icnrease the strength ofcartridge-type fluid dispensers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge-typedispenser which can be economically disposed of after a single use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge-typedispenser which is exceptionally clean during the performance ofdispensing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge-type dispenserwhich is flat on both ends and reduces storage and shipping spacerequired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cartridge-typedispenser which is economical to produce and is simple and reliable inoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and claims when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a cartridge-type dispenserconstructed in accordance with the present invention, with portionsthereof shown in cross section, showing the cartridge-type dispenserfilled with a dispensable product and positioned for use in a dispensinggun, the dispensing gun being illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating thecartridge-type dispenser in a condition assumed after a substantialportion of the dispensable product has been dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged side elevation view similar to FIG. 2illustrating the cartridge in a condition assumed after substantiallyall the dispensable product has been dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of an empty cartridge-typedispenser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the cartridge-type dispenser of FIG. 4fully assembled and closed;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the opposite end of the cartridge-typedispenser of FIG. 5 illustrating the cartridge-type dispenser fullyassembled and closed;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the plug top end portion of thecartridge-type dispenser; and

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevation view of the plug top end portion ofthe cartridge-type dispenser with portions thereof shown in crosssection.

Referring now to the drawings, and FIG. 1 in particular, a disposablecartridge-type dispensing package 10, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, is shown positioned in a dispensing gun 12,illustrated in phantom broken lines, the cartridge being filled andready for immediate use. The gun 12 is preferably of the type whichdispenses an accurately measured increment of the contents of thepackage or cartridge 10 upon each actuation thereof. To this end, thegun 12 can be provided with a trigger 14 and pawl and detent or otherescapement means diagrammatically indicated at 16 adapted to cooperatewith teeth on the piston rod of a plunger or follower generallyindicated at 18, all as is well known in the art. A wall 20 is providedat the forward end of the gun 12 against which the forward end of thecartridge 10 rests so that pressure applied by the trigger mechanism ofthe gun 12 can be effective to dispense the contents of the cartridge aswill be explained hereinafter.

The cartridge 10 comprises a generally cylindrically shaped tubular bodyor side wall 22 preferably constructed of a normally solidthermoplastic-coated, foil-laminated, food-grade paperboard. While anytype of material can be employed in the construction of the tubular sidewall 22 which will provide the desired physical strength and foodhandling characteristics, it is presently preferred to employ apolyethylene-coated, foil-laminated, food-grade paperboard having athickness of about 0.17 inch (4.32 mm) and having a conventionaloverlapped side seam 24, which seam is formed by applying sufficientheat and pressure to the overlapped portions of the side wall to causeautogenous bonding of the superposed polyethylene-coated surfacesthereof. One such suitable paperboard is available from InternationalPaper Company and is designated as 17 point solid bleached Kraft, foillaminted, polyethylene coated on both sides. The cartridge-typedispensing package or container 10 also comprises a dispensing head 26and an extruding plug top closure or piston 28 designed to cooperatewith the plunger or follower 18 of the dispensing gun 12.

The plug top closure 28 can be made of any suitable material, however,the closure 28 is preferably formed of a unitary homogeneous mass ofplastic material such as a synthetic resin material. Examples ofsuitable synthetic resin material for use in constructing the plug topclosure 28 include normally solid thermoplastic materials comprising atleast one alpha olefin polymer. Examples of suitable alpha olefinpolymers include high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene andpolypropylene, with high density polyethylene being presently preferred.

The plug top closure 28 comprises a closure side wall 30 sized andshaped to be closely received within the generally cylindrical tubularside wall 22. A radially outwardly extending closure lip 32 is formed onthe first end portion 34 of the side wall 30 of the plug top closure 28and is adapted to yieldably engage the inner surface of the tubular sidewall 22. A pair of longitudinally spaced, radially outwardly extendingcircumferential ribs 36 and 38 are formed on a first generallyfrustoconically shaped outer surface 40 of the closure side wall 30 andare sized and shaped to tightly, frictionally engage the inner surface42 of the tubular side wall 22 to provide means for both frictionallyretaining the plug top closure 28 within the tubular side wall with theclosure lip 32 yieldably engaging the inner surface 42 and wiping theinner surface 42 clean of the contents of the container 10 during thesliding operation of the plug top closure 28 relative to the tubularside wall 22 in cooperation with the plunger 18 of the dispensing gun12. The ribs 36 and 38 preferably each terminate at their radiallyoutermost portion in a generally circumferential knife edge having anincluded angle of approximately 48 degrees.

The plug top closure 28 further includes a generally radial end wall 44closing the plug top closure at the second end portion 46 thereofopposite the closure lip 32. The generally radial end wall 44communicates with the outer surface 40 of the closure side wall 30 bymeans of a generally frustoconically shaped or tapered transitionportion 48. The apical angle of the outer surface of the generallyfrustoconically shaped transition portion 48 is preferably approximately40 degrees, and the apical edge of the general frustoconically shapedouter surface 40 is preferably approximately 12 degrees. Thefrustoconically shaped or tapered transition portion 48 facilitates theinsertion of the plug top closure 28 into the respective open end of thetubular side wall 22 subsequent to the filling of the container 10 withthe material to be dispensed therefrom. In this regard, the annular rib38 is preferably interrupted at four circumferentially spaced locations50 to provide means for venting air past the rib 38 during high speedinsertion of plug top closures 28 into tubular side walls 22 byautomatic packaging machinery.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, the plug top closure 28, whenproperly installed within the tubular side wall 22, is secured to theinner surface 42 of the tubular side wall 22 to achieve an annular fluidor liquid tight seal therebetween. This seal is preferably achievedbetween the closure lip 32 and the inner surface 42. As mentioned above,the tubular side wall 22 preferably includes a thin metal foil laminate52 suitably adhered to the inner surface of an outer laminate 54 offood-grade paperboard. A thin coating of normally solid thermoplasticmaterial, preferably polyethylene, is adhered to the inner surface ofthe metal foil laminate 52 and is designated by the reference character56. The annular seal between the closure lip 32 and the metal foillaminate 52 is preferably achieved by mutually fusing the outer surfaceof the closure lip 32 and the polyethylene film laminate 56 as shown at57. The strength of this annular seal has been found to exceed thestrength of the bond between the metal foil laminate 52 and thepaperboard outer laminate 54 when the plug top closure 28 is movedthrough the tubular side wall 22 under the influence of the plunger 18of the dispensing gun 12. The resulting delaminating action between themetal foil laminate 52 and the outer paperboard laminate 54 is depictedin FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be seen that as the plug top closure 28traverses the inner surface 42 of the tubular side wall 22, thedelaminated metal foil polyethylene coated laminate 52 is drawntherebehind, thus preventing the release of any of the material beingdispensed thereby behind the plug top closure 28.

The tubular side wall 22 is preferably provided with a radially inwardlycurled lip 58 formed on the inlet end portion 60 thereof. The inwardlycurled lip 58 provides additional means for assuring the integrity ofthe package 10 after it has been filled with dispensable material andclosed and sealed by means of the plug top closure 28 in the mannerdescribed above.

The dispensing head 26 preferably formed of a one-piece, generally flatcircular disc disposed within the tubular side wall 22 at the outlet endportion 62 thereof. The dispensing head 26 has a diameter slightly lessthan the inside diameter of the inner surface 42 of the tubular sidewall 22 so as to be closely received therein, and is positioned inabutting relation to a radially inwardly rolled lip 64 formed on theoutlet end portion 62 of the tubular side wall 22. The dispensing head26 is fixedly secured in abutting relation with the lip 64 by means of acontinuous circumferential bead or fillet of suitable adhesivecommunicating between the periphery of the dispensing head 26 and theinner surface 42 of the tubular side wall 22 as shown at 66. Thecontinuous circumferential fillet of adhesive 66 provides a fluid-tightseal between the dispensing head 26 and the tubular side wall 22.

The dispensing head 26 can be formed of any suitable sheet materialwhich will provide the desired closure of the outlet end portion 62 ofthe tubular side wall 22. While any sheet material suitable for thispurpose can be employed, it is presently preferred to utilize a sheet ofsynthetic resinous material. Examples of such suitable syntheticresinous material include normally solid thermoplastic materials such asthose comprising at least one alpha olefin polymer, including highdensity polyethylene and low density polyethylene, with low densitypolyethylene being presently preferred. Suitable materials for theconstruction of the dispensing head 26 are characterized by inherentresiliency.

The dispensing head 26 is provided with a generally star-shaped orifice68 located in the central portion thereof. The orifice is composed of aplurality of slits 70 which mutually converge at the center of thedispensing head 26. The orifice 68 preferably comprises eight equallyangularly spaced slits 70 which define a plurality of separatepetal-like fingers or blades 72 which taper in width from the base ofeach blade to terminate in narrow pointed tips at the central point ofthe orifice 68. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the lowdensity polyethylene sheet material forming the dispensing head 26 isapproximately 0.030 inch (0.76 mm) and each slit is approximately 0.5inch (1.27 cm) in length from the base of the adjacent plate 72 to thecenter of the orifice 68. The width of each slit 70 is preferablysubstantially zero when the fingers or blades 72 defining the orifice 68are in their relaxed or closed position.

The orifice 68 of the dispensing head 26 is provided with a removableseal 74 which is adapted to be applied over the orifice 68 to preventthe passage of the contents of the container 10 through the orifice 68until it is desired to begin dispensing the contents thereof through theaction of the dispensing gun 12. The seal 74 can be of any suitableshape capable of covering the orifice 68 and is preferably provided withmeans thereof which can serve as a pull tab to facilitate the removal ofthe seal from the dispensing head 26. Preferably, the seal 74 is of arectangular or square shape, whereby any one of the four corners canserve as a pull tab. The seal 74 can be made of plastic tape withadhesive applied to one surface thereof or, more preferably, a metalfoil, such as aluminum, coated on one surface with a pressure- orheat-sensitive adhesive. In either case the adhesive-coated side of theseal 74 is pressed against the outer surface of the dispensing head 26and is secured thereto by application of pressure or of heat andpressure as required. It is presently preferred to utilize thepreviously mentioned metal foil with a heat-sensitive adhesive on onesurface thereof which is secured to the dispensing head 26 by means ofheat and pressure applied to the seal 74 in the form of a heated ring ofa diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the orifice 68, asshown at 76 in FIG. 5.

It is presently preferred to construct the plug top closure or piston 28of molded high density polyethylene, as mentioned above, with the plugtop closure having a nominal wall thickness of about 0.040 inch (1.02mm). The closure lip 32 preferably extends radially outwardly andlongitudinally away from the first end portion 34 of the plug topclosure 28 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinalaxis of the plug top closure. The thickness of the closure lip 32 ispreferably approximately 0.010 inch (0.25 mm), which thickness providesa suitable amount of resiliency to the closure lip 32 to maintainintimate contact between the closure lip and the inner surface 42 of thetubular side wall 22 and to provide sufficient thermoplastic material toachieve the previously described annular seal 57 therebetween. Thesepreferred dimensions, and the other preferred dimensions relating to thedispensing head 26 provide a cartridge-type dispensing package orcontainer 10 which is well adapted for the dispensing of a dispensableproduct having the consistency of mayonnaise, catsup or other similarproducts. On each stroke of the trigger 14, the dispensing head 26 willautomatically assure that the desired quantity of such dispensablecontents 78, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, will be dispensed at a lowvelocity irrespective of the manner in which the trigger 14 may beactivated due to the resilient valve action of the fingers or blades 72defined in the orifice 68 in the dispensing head. Preferably eachactuation of the trigger 14 is effective to extrude an accuratelypredetermined quantity of the dispensable contents of the container 10.For example, the trigger mechanism can be designed to extrudesubstantially exactly one-third of a fluid ounce of the dispensablecontents of each stroke of the trigger. When the contents 78 have beensubstantially completely dispensed, the parts of the package assume theposition shown in FIG. 3 wherein the plug top closure or piston 28 hasmoved into abutment with the inner surface of the dispensing head 26,and further movement of the plug top closure is prevented.

It should be noted at this point that upon the initial advancement ofthe plug top closure 28 through the tubular side wall 22 from theposition illustrated in FIG. 1, the metal foil laminate 52 andpolyethylene film laminate 56 which are sealed to the plug top closure28 are delaminated from the outer paperboard laminate 54, and furthermovement of the plug top closure 28 through the tubular side wall 22causes the thus delaminated laminates 52 and 56 to be stripped from theouter laminate 54 thus maintaining isolation of the contents 78 withinthe package 10.

The cartridge-type dispensing package or container 10 is well adaptedfor manufacture on the container manufacturing apparatus disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,072,226, issued Feb. 7, 1978, and assigned to theassignee of record of the instant application.

Assembly of the container 10 can be achieved in the following manner.Each dispensing head 26, with a seal 74 secured thereto closing theorifice 68, is positioned by a suitable bottom feeder mechanism on theouter end of a respective mandrel which dispensing head is retained onthe mandrel by means of vacuum applied to the mandrel. The dispensinghead is positioned in the mandrel with the seal on the side of thedispensing head remote from the mandrel. The mandrel securing therespective dispensing head is then moved or indexed to a positionadjacent a suitable side wall feeder at which point a respective flatgenerally rectangular side wall blank, having first and second parallelside edge portions and first and second end faces, is first heated alongits first and second parallel side edge portions which will ultimatelybe overlapped, and is then positiond adjacent to and clamped on thecylindrical outer surface of the mandrel carrying the dispensing head.The mandrel carrying the dispensing head and side wall blank is thenmoved or indexed to a position adjacent a suitable side wall wrappermechanism at which time the side wall blank is wrapped about thecylindrical outer surface of the mandrel and the previously heatedparallel side edge portions are overlapped and clamped together andallowed to cool, thereby forming the overlapped side seam 24 when thesuperposed heated thermoplastic coated layers become autogenously bondedtogether to form the tubular body or side wall 22.

The mandrel carrying the thus formed tubular side wall 22 and dispensinghead 26 is then moved or indexed to a position adjacent a suitable bondheater where the thermoplastic coating of the tubular side wall at theend thereof adjacent the dispensing head can be optionally heated to asuitable bonding temperature of the thermoplastic coating. If desired,this heating step can be omitted although the mandrel will still beindexed to and from this position in the operation of the conventionalcontainer manufacturing apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,226.The mandrel carrying the tubular side wall and dispensing head is thenmoved or indexed to a position adjacent a rotating bottom sealing headwhich moves in coaxial alignment with the tubular side wall intoengagement with the either heated or unheated continuous edge of thetubular side wall adjacent the dispensing head, and rolls the continuousedge inwardly, thereby forming a radially inwardly rolled lip 64 whichabuttingly engages the outer periphery of the respective dispensinghead.

After formation of the rolled lip 64, the rotating bottom sealing headis then withdrawn from the thus formed roll lip and the mandrel carryingthe partially assembled container comprising a tubular side wall 22 anddispensing head 26 secured thereto is moved or indexed to a doffingposition where the partially assembled container is removed by suitablemeans from the mandrel and conveyed away by suitable conveyor means to afinishing station. At the finishing station, the partially assembledcontainer is grasped at the end thereof adjacent the dispensing head 26by a suitable rotating head and is rotated thereby about thelongitudinal axis of the tubular side wall 22 during which rotation aquantity of a suitable adhesive is directed by means of suitable nozzlemeans onto the continuous juncture within the tubular side wall 22between the inner surface 42 thereof and the outer periphery of thedispensing head 26 to thereby form the continuous bead or fillet ofadhesive 66 between the dispensing head and the tubular side wall toprovide a fluid-tight seal therebetween. A suitable adhesive for theformation of the continuous bead or fillet 66 is a hot melt luttingdesignated as Finley No. 295-337.

The thus partially assembled container is ready to be filled with thedispensable contents 78 by any suitable filling means, either manual orautomatic. After the partially assembled container is filled with thedispensable contents 78, the plug top closure 28 is inserted into theopen end portion of the tubular side wall 22 until the closure lip 32yieldably engages the inner surface 42 of the tubular side wall adjacentthe open end portion of the tubular side wall. The plug top closure 28is then sealed to the inner surface 42 preferably by fusing at least aportion of the closure lip 32 to the inner surface 42 as shown at 57.This is preferably achieved by means of a suitable bond heater wherebythe thermoplastic film laminate 56 and the portion of the closure lip 32in contact therewith are heated to a suitable bonding temperature of thetwo thermoplastic materials. The open upper end portion of the tubularside wall 22 is subsequently inwardly curled as shown at 58 by suitablemeans such as a crimping head or rotating curling head coaxially alignedwith the longitudinal axis of the tubular side wall 22.

The cartridge-type dispensing package or container 10, as describedabove, has been designed to minimize costs associated with materials andassembly and with sufficient ruggedness to survive filling, closing,packing and shipping in suitable groups in shipping containers which aredelivered to a food outlet where the cartridge-type dispensing packagesare removed from the shipping containers as needed for reloading thepreviously described dispensing guns. More rugged and more expensiveconstruction can be utilized to adapt the instant cartridge-typedispensing containers for additional demands which could be placed uponthem if they were to be distributed for individual handling and retailsale to private customers or individual restaurants. For example, theplug top closure 28 could be even more securely retained within thetubular side wall 22 during shipping and handling by passing a length oftape from one side of the tubular side wall transversely across the plugtop closure 28 to the opposite side of the tubular side wall. Such tapecouuld be in the form of an elongated strip of paper or plastic sheetmaterial having suitable adhesive on one side thereof adapted tosecurely engage the outer surface of the tubular side wall. It will beunderstood that such tape would be removed from the container 10 priorto the positioning thereof within the dispensing gun 12.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts orelements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in thedrawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined and limited only by the following claims.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising:a generallycylindrically shaped tubular side wall formed of a delaminable laminatedsheet material and having an inner surface and first and second open endportions, the first open end portion terminating in a radially inwardlyrolled lip; a generally flat circular disc disposed within said tubularside wall in abutting relation with the radially inwardly rolled lip,said circular disc having a plurality of slits therethrough and mutuallyintersecting at a point positioned generally in the center of saidcirculating disc;means disposed about the periphery of said circulardisc and communicating between said circular disc and said tubular sidewall for securing said circular disc within said tubular side wall inabutting relation with said inwardly rolled lip and providing asubstantially liquid tight seal between said circular disc and saidtubular side wall; and plug top closure means disposed within saidtubular side wall adjacent the second open end portion thereof, saidplug top closure means having a closure side wall sized and shaped to beclosely received within the second open end portion of said tubular sidewall, said closure side wall having radially outwardly extending closurelip means on a first end portion thereof adapted for yieldably engagingthe inner surface of said tubular sidewall and formed of a normallysolid thermoplastic material fusion sealed to the inner surface of saidtubular side wall, and said plug top closure means further includinggenerally radial end wall means extending across and closing a secondend portion of said closure side wall.
 2. A container in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said tubular side wall is characterized further toinclude:radially inwardly rolled lip means on the second open endportion for retaining said plug top closure means within said tubularside wall.
 3. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein saiddelaminable laminated sheet material comprises an outer laminate ofpaperboard and an inner laminate of metal foil, said inner laminatebeing delaminable from said outer laminate upon the application of apredetermined amount of delaminating force applied to one of saidlaminates relative to the other of said laminates.
 4. A container inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic material of said lipmeans is fusion sealed to said inner laminate of metal foil.
 5. Acontainer in accordance with claim 3 wherein said inner laminate ofmetal foil is further coated with a film of normally solid thermoplasticmaterial adhered to said metal foil.
 6. A container in accordance withclaim 5 wherein said thermoplastic material of said lip means is fusionsealed to said thermoplastic film adhered to said metal foil.
 7. Acontainer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer surface of saidclosure side wall of said plug top closure means is generallyfrustoconically shaped, tapering inwardly from said first end portiontoward said second end portion.
 8. A container in accordance with claim7 wherein said closure side wall further includes at least one radiallyoutwardly extending circumferentially rib means on the generallyfrustoconically shaped outer surface thereof, said rib means being sizedand shaped to tightly and slidingly engage the inner surface of saidtubular side wall.
 9. A container in accordance with claim 7 whereinsaid plug top closure means is characterized further to include tworadially outwardly extending circumferential rib means in longitudinallyspaced relation on said generally frustoconically shaped outer surfaceof said closure side wall.
 10. A container in accordance with claim 9wherein the radially outwardly extending circumferential rib meansnearest the second end portion of said generally frustoconically shapedouter surface of said closure side wall is interrupted at at least onelocation so as to provide means for venting air therepast duringinsertion of said plug top closure means in the second end portion ofsaid tubular side wall.
 11. A container in accordance with claim 1wherein said closure side wall of said plug top closure means comprisesa first generally frustoconically shaped portion tapering radiallyinwardly from said closure lip means toward said first end portion ofsaid plug top closure means at a first angle and a second generallyfrustoconically shaped transition portion communicating with said firstgenerally frustoconically shaped portion and tapering radially inwardlyat a second angle from said first generally frustoconically shapedportion toward said generally radial end wall means.
 12. A container inaccordance with claim 11 wherein said plug top closure means ischaracterized further to include at least one radially outwardlyextending circumferential rib means on the outer surface of the firstgenerally frustoconically shaped portion thereof, said rib means beingsized and shaped tightly and slidingly engage the inner surface of saidtubular side wall.
 13. A container in accordance with claim 11 whereinsaid plug top closure means is characterized further to include tworadially outwardly extending circumferential rib means in longitudinalspaced relation to the outer surface of the first generallyfrustoconically shaped portion of said plug top closure means.
 14. Acontainer in accordance with claim 13 wherein the radially outwardlyextending circumferential rib means nearest said second generallyfrustoconically shaped transition portion is interrupted at at least onelocation so as to provide means for venting air therepast duringinsertion of said plug top closure means in the second end portion ofsaid tubular side wall.
 15. A container in accordance with claim 14wherein said plug top closure means is formed of a unitary homogeneousmass of normally solid thermoplastic material.
 16. In a cartridge-typedispenser of the type which includes a generally cylindrical tubularbody having first and second end portions with dispensing outlet meansin the first end portion thereof and with the second end portion thereofbeing open, the improvement comprising:a delaminable laminate definingan inner surface of said tubular body; and plug closure means adapted tobe disposed within the second end portion of said tubular body forclosing said cartridge-type dispenser, said plug closure means having aclosure side wall sized and shaped to be closely received within thesecond end portion of said tubular body and having radially outwardlyextending closure lip means on a first end portion of said closure sidewall formed of a normally solid thermoplastic material fusion sealed tothe inner surface of said tubular body, said closure side wall furtherincluding at least one radially outwardly extending circumferential ribmeans on a first outer surface of said closure side wall adapted totightly and slidingly engage the inner surface of said tubular body,said first outer surface of said closure side wall being generallyfrustoconically shaped and communicating with and tapering radiallyinwardly away from said closure lip means toward means closing a secondend of said closure side wall.
 17. A cartridge-type dispenser inaccordance with claim 16 wherein said plug closure means ischaracterized further to include two of said radially outwardlyextending circumferential rib means in longitudinally spaced relation onsaid first outer surface of said closure side wall.
 18. A cartridge-typedispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein the radially outwardlyextending circumferential rib means nearest the second end of saidclosure side wall is interrupted at at least one location so as toprovide means for venting air therepast during insertion of said plugclosure means in the second end portion of said tubular body.
 19. Acartridge-type dispenser in accordance with claim 18 wherein said meansclosing a second end of said closure side wall is characterized furtherto include a generally radial end wall and a generally frustoconicallyshaped radially inwardly tapered transition portion communicatingbetween said first outer surface of said closure side wall and saidgenerally radial end wall, said tapered transition portion beingradially inwardly tapered at an angle greater than the angle of radiallyinward taper of said first outer surface for facilitating the insertionof said plug closure means in the second end portion of said tubularbody.
 20. A cartridge-type dispenser in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid means closing a second end portion of said closure side wall ischaracterized further to include a generally radial end wall and agenerally frustoconically shaped radially inwardly tapered transitionportion communicating between said first outer surface of said closureside wall and said generally radial end wall, said tapered transitionportion being radially inwardly tapered at an angle greater than theangle of radially inward taper of said first outer surface forfacilitating the insertion of said plug closure means in the second endportion of said tubular body.
 21. A cartridge-type dispenser inaccordance with claim 16 wherein said tubular body is characterizedfurther to include:radially inwardly curled lip means on the second endportion of said tubular body for retaining said plug closure meanswithin said tubular body.
 22. A cartridge-type dispenser in accordancewith claim 16 wherein said delaminable laminate comprises a sheet ofmetal foil, and wherein said metal foil is delaminable from an outerlaminate upon the application of a predetermined amount of delaminatingforce between said metal foil and said outer foil.
 23. A cartridge-typedispenser in accordance with claim 22 wherein said thermoplasticmaterial of said closure lip means is fusion sealed to said metal foil.24. A cartridge-type dispenser in accordance with claim 22 wherein saidmetal foil is further coated on the inner surface thereof with a film ofnormally solid thermoplastic material adhered to said metal foil.
 25. Acartridge-type dispenser in accordance with claim 24 wherein saidthermoplastic material of said closure lip means is fused to said filmof thermoplastic material.
 26. A cartridge for holding and dispensingdispensable materials, said cartridge comprising:a generally cylindricaltubular body having first and second end portions, said body beinglaminated and having an inner laminate adapted to delaminate; outletmeans in the first end portion of said tubular body for dispensing thecontents thereof; and a plug closure disposed within the second endportion of said tubular body, said closure having an end wall extendingacross the second end portion of said body to close the same and aperipheral portion of said end wall bonded to said inner laminate,whereby the bond between said peripheral portion and inner laminateeffects delamination of the inner laminate upon movement of said plugclosure toward said outlet to dispense the contents of said tubularbody.
 27. A cartridge as set forth in claim 26, wherein:said innerlaminate has an inner surface coated with normally solid thermoplasticmaterial; said peripheral portion of the end wall is formed of anormally solid thermoplastic material; and said thermoplastic materialsare fusion bonded to bond said peripheral portion to said innerlaminate.
 28. A cartridge as set forth in claim 26, wherein saidperipheral portion of the end wall of said plug closure includes:a sidewall extending from said end wall, said side wall fitting closely withinsaid tubular body; and a flexible lip extending outwardly from said endwall and yieldably contacting said tubular body, said lip being bondedto said inner laminate.
 29. A cartridge as set forth in claim 28,wherein:said inner laminate has an inner surface coated with a normallysolid thermoplastic material; said lip is formed of a normally solidthermoplastic material; and said thermoplastic materials are heat sealedtogether to bond said lip to said inner laminate.
 30. A cartridge as setforth in claim 29, wherein said lip has a lesser thickness than saidside wall.
 31. A cartridge for holding and dispensing dispensablematerials, said cartridge comprising:a generally tubular body havingopposite first and second ends and a hollow interior for holdingdispensable materials; a plurality of laminates forming said tubularbody, including an inner laminate adapted to delaminate when subjectedto a predetermined force; a dispensing outlet in said first end of thebody for dispensing the contents thereof; a plug closure disposed withinthe second end of said body, said closure having a side wall fittingclosely within said tubular body and an end wall extending across andclosing a first end portion of said side wall; and an outwardlyextending lip projecting from a second end portion of said side wall,said lip being heat sealed to said inner laminate of the body to effectdelamination of said inner laminate upon movement of said plug closuretoward the dispensing outlet under the influence of a force in excess ofsaid predetermined force.
 32. A cartridge as set forth in claim 31,wherein:said inner laminate has an inner surface coated with a normallysolid thermoplastic material; said lip is formed of a normally solidthermoplastic material; and said thermoplastic materials of the innerlaminate and lip are fused together.
 33. A cartridge as set forth inclaim 32, wherein said lip has a lesser thickness than said side wall.